Environment texturing experiements

I've started to add realistic texturing to my scene. I've added in a gate at the end of my path as this was leading to the edge of the world going nowhere. Next step is lighting and I am ready to animate. Bit nervous of the time scale I have left but I'm motivated and working away so hopefully won't be a problem. Note to self..just keep saving scene. SAVE SAVE SAVE. I can't let loosing my work demotivate me!!!

New robot walking

I know its not perfect and the end frame is wrong, but it was just a test.

Backing the evidence!

After having to start again, I am not taking any chances of loosing my work again. I have screen shots of making my robot AGAIN - step by step showing how my robot is a working rig, mainly for evidence incase it does corrupt again, this might be all I have. I am in the process of rendering a short version of its basic walking.

Legs rigged and working.

Footroll and toe bend.

Arms, hand and fingers.

Spine.

Head.

Controls all linked.

Eyes.

Mouth.

Walking.

Good timing or...?

So, 1 week to go before presentation week and all my files for my robot are corrupted, including my backups! Not my fault but hey, what can I do. Started all over again and its frustrating as there is so much to get done in so little time. I started on my environment instead as I have produced about 20 robots and they all keep corrupting - need a change of scenery!

This WAS one of many of my fully rigged robot and the proof of it being corrupted.

These are a few images of my environment setting so far. I have also started to experiment with texturing, such as the leaves, sky and pebbled concrete.

Below, I have started to create a sign post here which will eventually read 'One Way' with two directional arrows to add to the gag of whihc direction he should walk in before he spots the long extended branch of a tree that he attempts to jump and hang on.

Not bad for a days work, but still, a lot to get done.

Robot Developments

Material experimentation. I want my robot to have a shiney effect, gives it more of a 'robot' look.

Environment Ideas

Here are some images I have taken as part of my environment design:

I want my scene to be daylight, in a quiet park. These are images I took which I am basing my environment design on. I have also found some on the web:

Walking robot

I think the legs need a more extension when stepping forward to help it look less bouncy and more of a stroll.

Testing walking robot

Robot walking

Today I have been working on making a robot do some basic walking. 'The Animators Survival kit', by Richard Williams is a book I have been finding very useful for animation principles. Although the book is mainly explained through imagery, the sketches are very descriptive themselves.

Below is a video of Monty Python - Silly walks. I found this extremely funny and therefore am going to create a sequence of a robot doing a silly walk too.

Head and eyes

I have been working on making the eyes work, so that they follow the dummy when moved. Also I have been practicing making the mouth movements and expressions - just need to keep working on this one for this to work. Need to start animating this all too! But practing with this robot is really helping me when it comes to rigging my own design. Images of this are in progress!

Environment Ideas

My robot is going to be swinging on a tree and repeatedly fall off. I think I will be using the loop still for him to swing and then fall.

Modelling buildings using reference photographs

Acquiring adequateon site photos:

>>Straight on images

>>Far away to show shape

>>Take measurements - bricks (22 X 7) , someone standing at a wall can help estimate - knowing the height of someone

>>Ensure all faces (exterior walls) have been photographed including alleyways and corner shots

>>For long buildings take multiple shots that can be pieced together if not to facade in the frame

>>Take multiple pictures of each facade from different angles.

Using Swift Loop in order to create faces to extrude.

Extruding windows

Cutting on existing vertex's to create a curve to extrude.

Robot Spine

This is the robot completed with working arms, legs and now spine.

Bennetts Robot designs

http://www.bennettrobotworks.com/

I've come across this website on the now - it shows a number of robot designs made from a mixture of found objects, both old and new. The parts are found in various places such as rubbish sites, basements and construction sites. I thought these designs are quite influential to my work.

I thought the image below looked slightly like my own design: